Japan Press Weekly

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2014 November 19 - 25 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Privatization of subway in Osaka avoided

The Osaka City Assembly on November 21 rejected a bill to privatize municipal subway and bus services, a centerpiece of the mayor’s policy, with the majority vote of all political forces, except for the mayor-led Japan Innovation Party (JIP).

Mayor Hashimoto Toru at the request of Osaka business circles proposed the privatization bill in a bid to put it in force in the next fiscal year. Osaka citizens were, however, complaining about the already deficient bus service due to the Hashimoto decision to reduce and end “unprofitable” routes. Local residents are calling for the protection of their daily means of transportation.

Japanese Communist Party member of the city assembly, Iwasaki Kenta, before voting on the bill pointed out that the municipal subway system has recorded the largest-ever profits. He insisted that the city government should use these profits to make quake-resistant structural improvements, and install safety platform gates and elevators.

The JCP assemblyperson demanded that the terminated bus lines be restored and that public transportation be served for the interest of public welfare and not just to generate profits.

After the rejection of the Hashimoto-proposed bill in the city assembly, the JCP Osaka Prefectural Committee issued a statement demanding that the mayor drop his privatization policy.


Past related articles:
>Osaka City mayor aims to privatize public waterworks [June 20, 2014]
>10,000 workers in Osaka governments will lose jobs [June 21, 2012]